Napping-machine.



H. S. GREENE.

NAPPING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED 213.24, 1913.

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H. S. GREENE.

NAPPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 131x24, 1913.

Patented June 16, 1914.

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H. S. GREENE.

NAPPING MAUHINE. APPLICATION FILED 33.24, 19 1s.

Patented June 16,1914.

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INVENTOR WITNBSSES COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPH co.,wAs|-nNG'r0N. D. C.

H. S. GREENE.

NAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.24, 1913.

Patented June 16,1914.

4 SHEETS-EHBET 4.

[N VE N T OR A tzorneys ELT-QM COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.,wAsmNuTON. D. C.

HARRY S. GREENE, 0F WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND.

NAPPING-MAGHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 16, 1914.

Application filed February 24, 1913. Serial No. 750,301. I,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY S. GREENE, citizen of the United States, residing at bonsocket, in the county of. Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented new and useful. Improvements in Napping- Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

My present invention pertains to napping machines, and more particularly to machines designed especially for napping fabric made in tubular form for underwear and other articles.

Tubular fabric is usually produced by knitting machines, and while it is necessary during the napping of such fabric that the same be held under sufficient tension to keep it even and flat, such tension must be an even tension exerted parallel to the length of the fabric and at a right angle to the length and in the direction of the width of the fabric, since subjecting the fabric to uneven tension or tension in any direction Or line other than those stated would, because of the elasticity of the fabric, draw the web of the fabric out of line and bring about wrinkling of the same and thereby cause a non-uniform and imperfect nap to be given the fabric.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a machine calculated to nap a strip of tubular or other fabric without subjecting the fabric precedent to or during the napping operation to tension other than the tension necessary to keep the fabric even and flat. Another object is the provision of means for napping both sides of a strip of tubular or other fabric in one continuous operation and this without subjecting the fabric at any time to tension other than that necessary to keep the fabric even and flat.

Another object is the provision of a machine embodying a drum for napping one side of a strip oftubular or other fabric, a drum for napping the other side of the strip of tubular or other fabric, and means for driving the drums and feeding the fab ric thereto in such manner that the fabric is not subjected to tension other than the tension necessary to maintain the fabric in an even and flat state during the napping thereof.

Another object is the provision of a machine embodying drums for napping opposite sides of a strip of tubular or other fabric in one continuous operation, and means for driving the drums in such manner as to prevent distortion of the fabric and assure uniform and adequate napping thereof throughout, in combination with means for transferring the fabric to a path alongside its previous path through the machine, either within or without the machine.

Other advantageous features of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of opposite sides'of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section of the machine. Fig. 4L is a detail plan view showing the arrangement of the transferring means relative to the napping drums.

Similar numerals and letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

The main frame of my novel machine may be of any construction compatible with its purpose, and in said frame are mounted the shafts 1 and 2 of the two side by side planetary napping drums A and B, that I employ. Each of the said drums comprises the usual spiders 8 fixed on the respective shaft of the drum, and the usual circular se ries of napping rolls 4, which 7201" so may be of the conventional construction or any other construction compatible with the purpose of my invention. The rolls 4 of each drum are mounted to rotate about their axes in the spiders of the drum during rotation of the latter about its axis, and every other roll 4 is provided at one end of the drum with a spur gear 5, and the alternate rolls 4 are provided at the opposite end of the drum with similar spur gears 5, so that some of the rolls can be driven by means at one end of the drum and the alternate rolls by means at the opposite end of the drum. Each of the drums also comprises revoluble heads 6, loosely mounted on'the drum shaft, after the manner disclosed in my Letters-Patent Number 1,020,280, dated March '12, 1912, and provided with rims 7 that are provided with internal spur-gear teeth 8, and external spur-gear teeth 9. The internal teeth 8 are intermeshed with napping-roll gears 5, and

hence it will be manifest that incidental to the rotation of the drum about its axis, the intermeshing of the roll gears 5 with the internal spur-gear teeth of the revoluble heads 6, loose on the drum shaft, will rotate the napping rolls A about their axes.

My invention contemplates carrying the tubular fabric to be napped over one drum, preferably at a right angle to the axis of the drum, to nap one side of the fabric, and then carrying the fabric over the other drum to nap the other side of the fabric, and in orde' to avoid placing of the fabric under tension (except the slight tension parallel to the length of the fabric and at right angles thereto and in the direction of the width of the fabric, necessary to keep the same even and flat) and the consequent distortion and imperfect or non-uniform napping of the fabric, I have discovered that it is absolutely necessary to positively connect the napping rolls of the two drums, so as to assure the rotation of the napping rolls of one drum about their axes by the napping rolls of the other drums. T 0 this end I provide between the heads 6 of drum A and the heads 6 of dram B, driving connections each of which preferably comprises spur gears 10 and 11, intermeshed with each other and respectively intermesh'ed with ahead 6 of the drum A and a head 6 of the drum B. By preference the heads 6, and consequently the napping rolls a of the drum B, are operated through the mentioned gears 10 and 11 from the heads 6 of the drum A. It will also be noted in this connection that when it is desired to change the speed for a different nap, it is necessary to change only for drum A, when the heads 6 and napping rolls 4: of drum B will be driven from the drum A. At this point I would have it distinctly understood that while I prefer to drive the heads 6 of one drum positively from the heads 6 of the other drum, at a predetermined rate of speed by the specific means described, I do not confine myself to the said specific means, as any other efficient means may be employed for the purpose, without departure from the scope of my claimed invention.

Motion is transmitted to the drum B through a band (not shown) and a band pulley B Fig. 1, fast on the shaft of the drum or by any. other suitable means; and in order to positively rotate the drum A at a predetermined rate of speed relative to the drum B and in reverse direction, I prefer to employ the driving connection shown, which driving connection comprises a sprocket gear 12 on the shaft of drum A. a spur gear 13 on the shaft of drum B, a suitably supported spur gear 14:, corresponding in diameter to and intermeshed with the spur gear 13, a sprocket gear 15 corresponding in diameter to the sprocket gear 12 and fixed with respect to the spur gear 14, and

a sprocket belt 16 mounted on and connecting the gear 15 and the gear 12 so as to transmit motion from the former to the latter.

The positive rotation of one drum, the drum A, for instance, from the other drum B, and at a predetermined rate of speed, is essential to the successful practice of my invention since otherwise the fabric being napped would be subject to objectionable tension or would sag intermediate the drums A and I), and in consequence it would be impossible to adequately and uniformly nap all portions throughout the length and width of the piece of fabric.

It is essential that the fabric be fed to the drums A and B at the proper speed relative to the speed of rotation of the drums, this to obviate any undue stretching or sagging of the fabric and thereby assure an adequate and uniform nap being produced on both sides of the fabric. To this end I provide a feed-in roll 17 complementary to the drum A, and a feed-in roll. 18 complementary to the drum 1 In the ordinary art of napping textile fabric, it is not absolutely essential that the feed-in rolls should be accurately timed, inasmuch as there is very little stretch to textile fabric, but incidental to the napping of knit goods, there is great liability of the goods wrinkling or stretching or sagging and seriously interfering with and preventing uniform napping. From this follows the necessity of the feedin rolls being so operated that the ratio of their speed of rotation will correspond strictly with that of their complementary napping drums. To the said end I provide a spur-gear 25 fast on the shaft of the feed in roll 17, and a sprocket gear 26 fast on the shaft of the feed-in roll 18; and 1 also provide a shaft 27, a sprocket gear 28 fast on said shaft, a sprocket belt 2i arranged on and connecting the sprocket gears 26 and 2S, and a spur-gear 30*, of the same size as the spur-gear 25, fast on the shaft 27 and intermeshed with the spur gear 25 on the shaft of the feed-in roll 17. Because of the driving connection described, one revolution of the shaft 27 will be attended by one revolution of the spur-gear and sprocket gear on said shaft 27, and by one revolution of the gear 25 on the shaft of the feed-in roll 17, and by one revolution of the sprocket gear 26 on the shaft of the feed-in roll 18, which assures the feed-in rolls 17 and 1S turning synchronously through one revolution.

Any suitable driving connection may be employed for supplying power to the feedin rolls 17 and 18, and may be applied at any suitable point without affecting my invention. I prefer, however, to employ the connection shown in which a transverse shaft 30 has fast thereon a spur-gear 31 which is interrneshed with a spur gear 32, of corresponding size, fast on a shaft 33 on which is also a fast sprocket gear 34 that is connected through a sprocket belt 35 with a sprocket gear 36, fast on the shaft 27. By simply changing the size of the spur-gears 31 and 32, the speed of the feedin rolls 17 and 18 can be changed in the event that the same is necessary.

A transverse roll 40 is mounted above the napping drum B and in rear of a roll 41 on the before-mentioned shaft 30, with reference to the direction of movement of the strip of fabric that is being napped.

The heads 6 of the napping drum A are positively driven from the shaft 1 by trains of gears such as shown in Fig. 1; it being understood that the train at the side of the machine shown in the figure referred to is duplicated at the opposite side of the machine, this because one-half of the napping rolls of drum A are driven from one side of the machine, and the remainder and alternate rolls thereof are driven from the o posite side of the machine. A detailed description of the train of gears for the purpose stated, shown in Fig. 1, will sufiice to impart a definite understanding of both trains. The train referred to comprises a spur gear 50 fast on the shaft 1, a spur gear 51 suitably supported and inter-meshed with the gear 50, a spur gear 52 suitably supported and intermeshed with the gear 51, and a suitably supported transverse shaft 53 having a spur-gear 54 fast thereon intermeshed with the gear 52, and also having a spur gear or pinion 55 inter-meshed with the external gear teeth of the adjacent head 6 of drum A.

From the foregoing it will be understood that inasmuch as the ower to rotate the napping rolls of both crums is taken from the drum A, the speed of rotation of all the napping rolls will be commensurate with the speed of rotation of the drums, and hence the napping rolls will not contribute to the imposition of objectionable tension on the strip of fabric during the napping thereof.

Intermeshed with the gear 51 is a spur gear 63, and fast upon the stud of said spur-gear G3 is a sprocket gear 63 under which a sprocket belt 66 passes; said belt 60 being driven by said sprocket gear 03 It will also he observed here that after pass ing under the sprocket gear 63, the belt 66 passes over an idler 68 and then under and around a sprocket gear 62 fast 011 a transverse shaft 60 to drive the latter.

Fast on the shaft of the roll 40 is a sprocket gear 64, Figs. 1 and 2, and fast on the shaft 30 of the roll 41 is a sprocket gear 65. Passed around and supported by the sprocket gears 62, 64 and 65 is the sprocket belt 66, and hence it follows that the rolls 40 and 41 are driven and controlled from the drum A.

It will be remembered that power is taken from the shaft 30 of roll 41 to drive the feed-in rolls 17 and 18 complementary to the drums A and B, respectively, and from this it follows that said feed-in rolls 17 and 18 are driven and controlled from the drum A.

Supported in the frame of the machine between the rolls 40 and 41 are spaced transverse bars 70, and supported by and interposed between the bars or supports 70, and disposed at acute angles thereto are fabric guides and transferrers 71, 72, which may be rods, as shown, rolls or other devices suitable to the purpose of fabric guides and transfcrers; the intermediate guides 72 being in pairs, as shown. This transferring means per 86 constitutes the subject of my contemporary application, filed Feb. 24, 1913, Serial Number 750,302. The said fabric guides and transferrers are for use when it is necessary'to run or pass the fabric two or more times through the machine to produce the nap desired, which is ordinarily the case; and it will be noticed in this connection that when a strip of fabric is to be passed but twice through the machine, only two of the guides 71 need be employed; also, that by employing the guides shown, a strip of fabric may be passed through the machine four times, or, on the other hand, two strips of fabric may be simultaneously passed and repassed through the machine.

In the practical use of my novel machine,

the fabric, see a in Fig. 1, after being caused to pass about various guide rolls, which it is not necessary to specifically designate, first passes under the feed-in roll 17 and then nearly encircles the primary drum ,A on which one side of the strip of fabric is napped. The fabric is then led off the drum A adjacent the bottom of the machine, and is carried to the back of the machine where it passes about guide rolls; including one guide roll back of the feed-in roll 18, and then forward and under the said feed-in roll 18, and then forward over the drum B, Fig. 2, by which the opposite side of the fabric is napped. After nearly encircling the drum B in the direction stated, the fabric is passed under a guide roll located near the bottom of the machine, and then upward past and against a guide roll 80, Fig. 1,, and then the fabric passes up to and over the roll 40, Figs. 1 and 2.

If it is desired or is necessary to pass the fabric but once through the machine, the fabric may be simply carried over the rolls 40 and 41, and out of the machine over a roll 85 which may, if desired, be driven from the shaft 30 of the roll 41. If on the other hand, it is desired to pass the fabric two or more times through the machine, as is usually the case in order to produce the desired nap, it is necessary to change the course of the fabric or transfer it to a path at the side of its initial path. To accomplish this so that the strands of the fabric will not be drawn out of line or shape, the fabric is carried over and under the first guide 71z', 6., the guide 71 nearest the right-hand side of the machine, looking forwardly, or nearest the top of Fig. 4, and the said guide 71 being at an angle to the course of the fabric will cause the fabric to take course approximately at a right angle to its initial path. The fabric is then carried under and over the adjacent-guide 72, and then forward over the roll 41, and then down and through the guide B and then through the machine in the manner before described. hen the fabric again arrives at the guide means shown as at Z), it passes over and under the third guide 72 toward the left, and then under and over the fourth guide 72 toward the left, and then forward over the roll 41 and through guide B to be again passed through the machine, and so on until the completely napped fabric passes over the roll 85 and is discharged from the machine as at 0.

By reason of the machine embodying two drums, as described, it will be observed that the machine may be made narrow in proportion to the amount of work it is capable of accomplishing and that floor space can be economized; also, the machine is rendered rigid and vibration of the napping rolls is reduced to a minimum, with the result that it is feasible to drive the machine at a high rate of speed and at the same time produce an even nap.

An important advantage peculiar to my novel transferring means resides in the fact that the fabric is transferred from one path to another without turning the fabric upside down and without the necessity of positioning the fabric so that any portion thereof is pendent-i. 6., arranging any portion of the fabric vertically or near the vertical. This will be appreciated as an important advantage when it is stated that particularly when the fabric is of the knitted type the placing of a portion of the fabric with one edge up and one edge down is highly objectionable because it will cause the fabric to sag and stretch and get out of shape, and in that way will bring about uneven or non-uniform napping of the fabric.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 1, the illustrated embodiment of my invention comprises a pulley B Power is transmitted to said pulley B through a pulley B fast on the shaft 2, and a belt B Fixed with respect to the pulley B is a pulley B around which passes a belt B for rotatclearer roll (not shown). Also mg a passed around the pulley B is a belt 13" for operating another clearer roll (not shown).

Manifestly some of the features of my invention may be employed in a napping machine having a single planetary napping drum Or napping means of any other description, and therefore it is not to be understood that I confine myself to the use of two planetary napping drums or to a single planetary napping drum as the napping means in combination with said features.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent:

1. In a napping machine, side by side napping drums respectively comprising a shaft, spiders fast thereon, napping rolls carried by the spiders, and suitably supported rings on the drum rotatable independently of the drum to rotate the napping rolls about their axes, means for rotating one of the drums, means for rotating the other drum by the first-named drum, and means for revolving the rings of one drum by the rings of the other.

2. In a napping machine, side by side napping druins respectively comprising a shaft, spiders fast thereon, napping rolls carried by the spiders and having spur gears, and suitably supported rings on the drum rotatable independently of the drum and having external spur-gear teeth and also having internal spur-gear teeth intermeshed with the spur-gear teeth of the napping rolls to retate the latter about their axes, means for rotating one of the drums by the other, and a positive spur-gear connection intermeshed with the external teeth of the rings for revolving the rings of one drum by the rings of the other.

In a napping machine, side by side napping drums, means for rotating one of the drums, a driving connection between said drum and the other drum to drive the latter by the former to enable the former to control the speed of the latter, feed-in rolls, one complementary to each napping drum, and means for driving and regulating the speed of the feed-in rolls in proportion to the speed of the drums.

1. In a napping machine, napping drums arranged side by side and respectively comprising a shaft, spiders fast thereon, napping rolls carried by the spiders and provided with gears, and rings on the drum revoluble independently of the drums and having internal teeth intermeshed with the gears of the rolls to positively rotate the rolls about their axes, and also having external teeth, means for positively rotating one of the drums, a positive connection between said drum and the other drum to rotate the latter by the former, a positive spur-gear connection between the rings of one drum and the rings of the other drum 1,100,557 8 to positively rotate the latter by the former, feed-in rolls and means intermediate the drums and the feed-in rolls for positively rotating the latter at a speed proportioned to that of the drums.

5. In a napping machine, side by side nection between the rings of one drum and the rings of the other to rotate the latter rings by the former.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 15 my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses. nappin drums each havin nappin rolls A togethei With rings revolublz indepen dently HARRY GREENE of the drum and constructed and arranged WVitnesses:

to positively rotate the rolls of the drum about their axes,

FRANons L. COYLE, and a posltlve driving c0n- PETER J. Corn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

